Terminal clip

ABSTRACT

A terminal clip for quick connection of an antenna lead to a receiver. A pair of jaws are mounted on a body and biased toward one another at their receiver-attachment ends by means of prestressed spring forces manufactured into the jaws in the areas in which they are attached to the body. An operating handle is attached to each jaw for opening them so that they can grip the receiver elements between them. Portions of the jaws within the body are provided with teeth whereby, when an antenna lead is threaded through the body, a screw means may be moved toward the teeth to fixedly embed the conductors thereon.

United States Patent Nelson TERMINAL CLIP [72] Inventor: Arthur Nelson, 1069 Via Regina,

Santa Barbara, Calif. 93105 [22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 81,088

[52] US. Cl. ..339/99 R, 339/217 R, 339/255 P [51] Int. Cl. ..H01n 11/20 [58] Field of Search ..339/95, 97-99, 339/217, 255, 260, 261

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,281,759 10/1966 Emerson ..339/97 P 2,989,720 6/1961 Rivkin ..339/99'R 3,251,021 5/1966 Schott et a1. ..339/97 P [45] Nov. 28, 1972 Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn Attomey-Smyth, Roston & Pavitt ABSTRACT A terminal clip for quick connection of an antenna lead to a receiver. A pair of jaws are mounted on a body and biased toward one another at their receiverattachment ends by means of pre-stressed spring forces manufactured into the jaws in the areas in which they are attached to the body. An operating handle is attached to each jaw for opening them so that they can grip the receiver elements between them. Portions of the jaws within the body are provided with teeth whereby, when an antenna lead is threaded through the body, a screw means may be moved toward the teeth to fixedly embed the conductors thereon.

12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures TERMINAL CLIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electrical terminal clips and more particularly to terminal clips for attachment of antenna lead-in lines to a pair of terminals on a receiver such as a TV or FM set. It will be readily apparent from this specification that such clips may have a variety of additional uses.

Antenna lead-in lines normally are formed by a pair of parallel conductors which are spaced so as to produce a signal impedance of approximately 300 ohms. The conductors are usually enclosed in an insulating material, such as polyethylene plastic, in such a way that the conductors are positioned within enlarged beads extending along the opposite sides of a substantially flat, web-like, central section.

When the conductors are to be attached to the leadin screws on the back of a receiver, and it is not expected that they will be removed and replaced very often, it has been the usual practice merely to strip the insula, tion away from the ends of the conductors, wrap the exposed conductor ends about the receiver screws, and tighten the screws to prevent inadvertent separation of the conductors from the electrical contact thereby created with the parts of the receiver. However, when it is expected that the antennalead-in will be separated from the receiver quite often, such as in a TV showroom or repair shop, a variety of clips have been provided which allow the lead-in wire to be attached to and removed from a set without requiring handling of the conductors each time. Repeated handling of the conductors allows them to be exposed to bending and other working thereof, which will eventually cause a breaking of the individual strands. When this happens to most of the conductor strands, the insulation must again be stripped away to expose a new section of the conductor.

Perhaps just as important as the above problem however, it is desirable to use the clips since they may be quickly and easily connected to a set by fastening them onto the screws merely by attaching the jaws to the screws. Many of these clips are designed'to act in a manner similar to that of a clothespin so that no tightening of the screws is necessary.

In many cases, such clips have required that the insulation be stripped away from the conductors and that they be attached to screws on the clip which are in electrical contact with electrically distinct jaws which are then spring biased against the terminal screws of the receiver.

Such clips have proven to be unsatisfactory in view of the difficulty in stripping the insulating material away from the conductors without damaging the individual strands of the conductors, causing the conductors to be weakened so that they eventually break away from the clip and have to be remounted.

One presently available clip, as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,251,021, allows the lead-in wire to be suitably threaded into the clip and the conductors are electrically connected to the jaws by means of teeth embedded therein. This clip has proven to be highly satisfactory in preventing damage to, and breakage of, the lead-in wire.

All of the presently available clips, however, have proven to be somewhat limited in use since they require that the electrical connection at the receiver comprise a pair of screws or similar terminals on the receiver. Occasionally, the connection device from the receiver may comprise other connection devices such as flat clips, U-shaped connectors, cylindrical plugs, etc. which are connected to the ends of a pair of leads extending rather loosely from the rear of the set. Obviously, the clips presently available are not connectable to such devices and other means must be used.

Therefore, it has been found both necessary and desirable to produce a terminal clip which can be connected to a pair of screws or similar devices as well as to all the other element connection devices presently utilized.

Summary of the Invention The present invention therefore comprises a terminal clip to which an antenna lead-in wire may be quickly and easily attached without requiring stripping of or allowing potential damage to the wire. Further, the invention comprises such a clip which maybe attached to a wide variety of connection devices presently used with receivers and similar equipment.

More specifically, the invention comprises a pair of electrically distinct jaw elements which are spring biased toward a position in which screw-contact jaws are adjacent one another but not in contact. The jaws are mounted on a hollow body through which a lead-in wire may be passed. A portion of each jaw extending through the body is provided with a number of teeth so that when a removable cap is threaded toward the teeth, the conductors in the lead-in wire will be embedded on the teeth for electrical contact between the jaws and the lead-in wire.

The biasing force which urges the jaws toward one another is generated by a leaf spring effect which is prestressed into the jaws in the areas in which they are attached to the body. Additionally, each jaw is fastened to the body by means of a spring-like gripping device thereon which expands into a counterbore in the base of the body.

Each jaw is provided with suitable apertures into which gripping devices integral with an insulating handle extend so that an operator may adjust the relative positions of the jaws.

In order to allow a number of different connecting devices to be placed into electrical contact with the jaws, an extension is provided on the portion thereof by which the jaw is attached to the body, such that the extension doubles back and contacts the main body of the jaw. Thus, when the jaws are opened, a variety of attachment clips, etc., can be positioned either between the jaws or between each jaw main body and its extension. Additionally, some types of attachment devices may be placed over a pair of prongs which extend from the jaws to create the desired electrical contact.

The terminal clip formed in accordance with the present invention comprise a minimum number of easily manufactured and replaceable parts which allow quick connection of a lead-in line to any presently used connection system without requiring alteration of the connection system, additional hardware, or stripping of the lead-in line.

The invention, together with its objects, advantages, modes, and further embodiments, will become understood by those skilled in the art through perusal of the Detailed Description and accompanying drawing which illustrate what is presently considered to be a preferred embodiment of the best mode contemplated for utilizing the novel principles of the invention as delineated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a terminal clip formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the terminal clip, taken along a line II-II, in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the terminal clip;

FIG. 4 is a top view of one of the jaw elements of the clip; I

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a handle used to open the jaw elements.

. DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in FIGS. 1-3 a terminal clip formed in accordance with the present invention comprises a body 11 through which passes a cap 13 by cooperation between a threaded sections, one of which is shown at 15 on the cap. A pair of jaw elements 17 and 19 are provided with extension sections 21 and 23 respectively, upon each of which a series of teeth 25 is formed. Each jaw element is formed so that its extension section passes through an opening 33 in the body and turns back to form a biasing section 34 which contact the main body of the jaw at a point 27.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the body is provided with a pair of bores 29 and counterbores 31 which communicate with the opening 33, at approximately the center of each of the extension portions 21 and 23, a U- shaped, spring-like clip 41 is formed, the legs of which may be compressed to pass through the bores 29 and allowed to expand into the counterbores 31 to hold the jaw elements in place on the body.

Suitable pre-stresses are manufactured into each of the jaws in the area of the intersection of the extension section and the main body to cause clamp element 43 and a clamp element 45 on each of the jaws to be biased toward similar elements on the opposite jaw. When a pair of electrical connection devices are positioned within either clamp, the jaws will grip the connection devices due to the biasing force.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, a pair of lever handles 51, each having a finger gripping surface 53 thereon, are provided with an L-shaped locking element 55 and a straight locking element 57. When the handles are attached to the jaws, each L-shaped locking element 55 is inserted into an opening 59 so that a shoulder 61 on the element is held against the inner face of the jaw. A spring-like flap 63, ending at an aperture 65, is formed in each of the jaw elements so that when the locking element 57 is inserted into the aperture 65, the flap 63 will exert a friction force thereagainst to hold the handle on the jaw, in the manner best shown in FIG. 3.

It will thus be understood by those skilled in the art that when the operator exerts a pinching force on the gripping surface 53 of the handles51, the sets of jaw teeth will be forced apart so that suitable connecting elements, such as screws or bolts, may be positioned between either of the sets of teeth 43 and 45 to hold the clip thereon. When the operator elects to use the jaws 43, the clip will be maintained substantially fiat against the surface of the device to which it is attached.

When the receiving device is not provided with connecting elements such as screws, but instead is provided with a pair of conductors having small clips, plugs, etc., thereon, these devices may be positioned at the intersections 27 of the extensions 21 and 23 and the main body of their respective jaws by opening the jaws to separate the extensions from the bodies at the intersections. When the levers 51 are then released, the connection devices will be pinched between the extensions and the bodies and thus maintained in electrical contact with the jaws.

Occasionally, an equipment manufacturer will provide as the antenna connection device a pair of conductors, each of which ends in a flat, female receptacle, which is insulated on its external surface. In order to cooperate with these receptacles, a prong 71 may be formed on each of the jaws, allowing the female connectors to be fitted thereon for electrical contact.

Thus, the invention comprises a relatively simple device having a body upon which a pair of self-biasing jaws are mounted by means of spring-like gripping devices which expand into counterbores formed in the body. An insulated handle is mounted to each of the jaws to allow clothespin operation thereof for attachment of the clip to common connecting devices. The jaws are suitably formed so that substantially all presently used connection systems which do not rely upon bolts or screws for their terminals may be electrically connected to the jaws either by being frictionally held between portions thereof of by being fitted over prongs thereon. A lead-in wire may be embedded onto teeth formed in the jaws by means of a cap which is threaded through the body to embed the conductors of the lead-in wire against the teeth.

Thus the applicant has provided one embodiment of a new and approved concept in the electrical connector art which yields a true advance in that art due to its versatility and simplicity. Many modifications, alterations, and other embodiments of this invention will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without exceeding the protected scope thereof, wherefore what is claimed as the invention is:

I claim: 1. A terminal clip comprising a body having a slot extending therethrough a pair of jaw means mounted on said body in electrically insulated relationship relative to one another, each having a main section including electrical attachment means thereon and an extension section integral with said main section, passing through said slot, and including a biasing section extending to a point of abutment with said main section to frictionally grip and maintain electrical elements therebetween. 2. The clip of claim 1 wherein each of said extension sections further includes means, intermediate said main section and said biasing section, upon which electrical conductors may be impaled to create electrical continuity with said jaw means. 3. The clip of claim 1 wherein said body further includes means movable within said slot for creating and maintaining electrical continuity between each said extension section and one of a pair of electrical conductors passed through said slot. 4. A terminal clip comprising a pair of electrically conductive jaws, each including a main section having electrical attachment means thereon and a formed section in abutment with said main section, means upon which said pair of jaws are mounted and by which said jaws are electrically insulated from one another, and means for biasing said electrical attachment means toward one another to provide a gripping force by means of which said electrical attachment means are maintained in fixed contact with electrical conduction means positioned therebetween 5. The terminal clip of claim 4 wherein said formed sections each includes means for creating electrical contact between said jaws and one of a pair electrical conductors. 6. The terminal clip of claim 5 wherein said mounting means comprises a housing having a slot extending therethrough through which said formed sections are passed to position said contact creating means therein and means mounted on said housing for reciprocal movement within said slot to urge a pair of electrical conductors into contact with said contact creating means. 7. The terminal clip of claim 6 wherein said housing also has a pair of bores therein in communication with one end of said slot and a pair of counterbores therein in communication with said bores and said formed sections each include gripping means thereon which may be compressed to pass through said bores and expanded to be held within said counterbores to hold said jaws on said housing. 8. The terminal clip of claim 4 wherein said biasing means comprises a portion of each of said pair of jaws, adjacent the main section and the formed section intersection thereof, which is provided with pre-stresses such as to urge each said main section toward the corresponding said formed section. 9. The terminal clip of claim 4 including means attached to each of said pair of jaws for opening said jaws against the force of said biasing means. 10. The terminal clip of claim 4 wherein said pair of jaws each include male connection means thereon over which female connection means may be fitted for electrical I contact between said jaws and said female connection means. 1 1. A terrrunal cllp comprising a pair of jaws, each having I a main, relatively long section including electrical attachment means thereon and a relatively short, integral extension section including a biasing section extending to a point of abutment with said main section intermediate the ends thereof and means for maintaining said pair of jaws in electrically insulated, spaced relationship. 12. A terminal clip comprising a pair of jaws, each having means thereon for making an electrical attachment between a lead-in conductor and a conductor to which each jaw may be removably attached and a gripping means integral with and extending from said attachment means and means for mounting said pair of jaws in electrically insulated relationship including at least one bore in said mounting means and at least one counterbore in said mounting means in substantial alignment with said at least one bore, said gripping means passing through said at least one bore and expanded into said at least one counterbore for positive retention of said pair of jaws on said mounting means. 

1. A terminal clip comprising a body having a slot extending therethrough a pair of jaw means mounted on said body in electrically insulated relationship relative to one another, each having a main section including electrical attachment means thereon and an extension section integral with said main section, passing through said slot, and including a biasing section extending to a point of abutment with said main section to frictionally grip and maintain electrical elements therebetween.
 2. The clip of claim 1 wherein each of said extension sections further includes means, intermediate said main section and said biasing section, upon which electrical conductors may be impaled to create electrical continuity with said jaw means.
 3. The clip of claim 1 wherein said body further includes means movable within said slot for creating and maintaining electrical continuity between each said extension section and one of a pair of electrical conductors passed through said slot.
 4. A terminal clip comprising a pair of electrically conductive jaws, each including a main section having electrical attachment means thereon and a formed section in abutment with said main section, means upon which said pair of jaws are mounted and by which said jaws are electrically insulated from one another, and means for biasing said electrical attachment means toward one another to provide a gripping force by means of which said electrical attachment means are maintained in fixed contact with electrical conduction means positioned therebetween
 5. The terminal clip of claim 4 wherein said formed sections each includes means for creating electrical contact between said jaws and one of a pair electrical conductors.
 6. The terminal clip of claim 5 wherein said mounting means comprises a housing having a slot extending therethrough through which said formed sections are passed to position said contact creating means therein and means mounted on said housing for reciprocal movement within said slot to urge a pair of electrical conductors into contact with said contact creating means.
 7. The terminal clip of claim 6 wherein said housing also has a pair of bores therein in communication with one end of said slot and a pair of counterbores therein in communication with said bores and said formed sections each include gripping means thereon which may be compressed to pass through said bores and expanded to be held within said counterBores to hold said jaws on said housing.
 8. The terminal clip of claim 4 wherein said biasing means comprises a portion of each of said pair of jaws, adjacent the main section and the formed section intersection thereof, which is provided with pre-stresses such as to urge each said main section toward the corresponding said formed section.
 9. The terminal clip of claim 4 including means attached to each of said pair of jaws for opening said jaws against the force of said biasing means.
 10. The terminal clip of claim 4 wherein said pair of jaws each include male connection means thereon over which female connection means may be fitted for electrical contact between said jaws and said female connection means.
 11. A terminal clip comprising a pair of jaws, each having a main, relatively long section including electrical attachment means thereon and a relatively short, integral extension section including a biasing section extending to a point of abutment with said main section intermediate the ends thereof and means for maintaining said pair of jaws in electrically insulated, spaced relationship.
 12. A terminal clip comprising a pair of jaws, each having means thereon for making an electrical attachment between a lead-in conductor and a conductor to which each jaw may be removably attached and a gripping means integral with and extending from said attachment means and means for mounting said pair of jaws in electrically insulated relationship including at least one bore in said mounting means and at least one counterbore in said mounting means in substantial alignment with said at least one bore, said gripping means passing through said at least one bore and expanded into said at least one counterbore for positive retention of said pair of jaws on said mounting means. 